How to Download Restricted Telegram Videos on Windows or Mac
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| Photo by Dima Solomin on Unsplash |
Downloading private videos from Telegram on a PC or Mac can be a tricky process due to the platform's restrictions on media saving in certain channels. While saving videos from public chats is straightforward, private channels often disable the download button to protect content. However, with the help of specific browser extensions and scripts, you can bypass these limitations and save the media you want directly to your computer.
For public videos, the process is simple and built directly into the Telegram desktop app. First, launch the application and navigate to the chat containing the video you wish to save. Once you locate the video file in the conversation thread, right click on it to bring up a context menu. From there, select "Save File As..." to open a file explorer window. Choose your desired destination folder, click "Save," and the video will begin downloading immediately.
Downloading from private channels requires a few more steps and the use of a web browser instead of the desktop app. To start, you need to install a browser extension called Tampermonkey, which is available for major browsers like Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox. You can find this extension by visiting its official website or your browser's extension store and clicking "Get from Store" to install it. This tool is essential because it allows you to run custom scripts that modify how websites behave.
Once Tampermonkey is installed, you need to add a specific script designed for Telegram. Navigate to the Greasy Fork website and search for the "Telegram media downloader" script. Click the "Install this script" button to add it to Tampermonkey. This script effectively re enables the download button on Telegram Web for channels that have restricted saving, giving you back control over the media you can access.
With the tools in place, go to the Telegram Web version at web.telegram.org/k/ or web.telegram.org/a/ and log in using your phone number or QR code if you haven't already. It is important to use the web version because the script only functions within a browser environment. Select the private channel from your chat list on the left side of the screen to view the conversation.
Finally, locate the video or photo you want to save within the private channel and click on it to open it in full view. You should now see a download button—typically represented by a down arrow icon—in the top right corner of the media viewer. Click this button, and if prompted, choose a location on your computer to save the file. The script will handle the rest, allowing you to download restricted content just as easily as public media.